Day: May 15, 2026

Posted in Writing Journey

A New Story Is Beginning

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

For years, I’ve loved a good ghost story.

Not the gory kind. Not the horror-movie kind.

I’ve always loved the quiet hauntings. The old houses with creaking floors and lingering memories. The kind of stories that feel gentle, mysterious, melancholy, and deeply human. The kind where the ghost isn’t there to terrify you… but to finally be heard.

And for years, I’ve wanted to write one.

Truthfully, I’ve started and stopped more times than I can count. Mostly because I struggled to believe I could actually do it. Life gets busy. Confidence gets shaky. Creativity gets buried beneath responsibilities and routines.

But lately, much like my main character Evelina, I’ve found myself standing at a crossroads season of life.

And somewhere, I decided to pick up the proverbial pen again.

So for better or worse, I’m officially in creating mode.

I’m incredibly excited to share that I’m currently working on Book One of The Lantern’s Reach Series:

The Lantern’s Reach: Whispers of Willow House

This story blends everything I love most:
☕ cozy small-town atmosphere
☕ emotionally layered characters
☕ old houses with long memories
☕ soft paranormal mystery
☕ healing and reinvention later in life
☕ quiet hauntings with deeply human stories behind them

At its heart, this is a story about listening. To grief. To memory. To intuition. To the parts of ourselves we silence for far too long.

And maybe, just maybe, it’s also about finding your voice again after years of believing it didn’t matter.

I’ll be sharing snippets, updates, inspiration, cozy aesthetics, and behind-the-scenes moments here on Clean Reads & Cozy Sips as the story unfolds.

Thank you for being here while I build something new.

I have no idea where this road fully leads yet.

But Willow House has opened its doors… and I think I’m finally ready to listen.

Posted in Bookshelf Favorites

Books Keeping Me Company Lately

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

There’s something comforting about finding stories that feel like coming home. Lately, I’ve been leaning into cozy mysteries, small-town settings, gentle suspense, and books that let me slow down for a little while. Some of these I listened to while crocheting or working on jewelry designs, and others became the perfect companion for quiet evenings with coffee and a blanket nearby.

If your reading taste leans toward cozy, clean, atmospheric, and comforting with just enough mystery to keep the pages turning, these books might find a place on your nightstand too.

Cozy Mysteries I Can’t Stop Reading

The Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries series by Angie Fox completely pulled me in lately. These books have the perfect mix of humor, paranormal mystery, quirky characters, and cozy Southern charm.

Recent Favorites from the Series

  • Secrets, Lies and Fireflies
  • Death at the Drive-In
  • Dread and Buried
  • Give Up the Ghost
  • The Haunted Homecoming

These books feel like curling up with a Hallmark mystery movie… if the town happened to come with ghosts and hilarious supernatural chaos. They’re light enough to relax with but still keep me turning pages long past bedtime.

Small-Town Comfort Reads

Sometimes I don’t want high drama or emotionally exhausting stories. I want charming towns, layered characters, and the kind of books that feel warm and familiar.

Books That Gave Me That Feeling

  • The Sunshine Potluck Society by Lilly Mirren
  • The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber
  • The House at Magpie Cove by Kennedy Kerr

These are the kinds of stories I love listening to while crafting. They’re calming without being boring, emotional without becoming heavy, and full of the kind of cozy atmosphere I always seem to crave.

Mystery Reads with Atmospheric Vibes

I’ve also been enjoying mysteries that feel a little moodier and more layered.

Recently Read

  • Telling Tales
  • The Crow Trap

Both by Ann Cleeves.

These books have such a strong sense of place. I love mysteries where the setting almost becomes its own character, and these definitely delivered that for me.

I also recently read:

  • You’d Be Home Now
  • The Cut

Both had a very different feel from my usual cozy reads, but sometimes stepping outside my comfort zone reminds me why I love reading in the first place. Every book leaves something behind, even the unexpected ones.

Why Cozy Reading Matters to Me

Reading has become part of the rhythm of my everyday life. Some people unwind with television. I unwind with stories, yarn, embroidery floss, coffee, and audiobooks playing softly in the background.

Books help me slow down.

They help me reconnect creatively.

And honestly, they make ordinary evenings feel a little more magical.

That’s what I hope this space becomes here at Clean Reads & Cozy Sips — a cozy corner for readers who love comforting stories, meaningful characters, peaceful routines, and the quiet joy of getting lost in a good book.